Precision Metal Working (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Greenville Technical College

Median Earnings (1yr)

$34,761

43rd percentile

40th percentile in South Carolina

Median Debt

$10,279

14% above national median

Analysis

Greenville Technical College's precision metal working certificate generates modest but steady earnings that lag behind stronger technical college options in South Carolina. Graduates here earn $34,761 initially—below both the national median ($36,248) and the state median ($34,928). More concerning, this program ranks in just the 40th percentile among South Carolina's 16 precision metal working programs, while nearby York Technical College grads earn 45% more ($50,309) and Midlands Technical grads earn nearly $13,000 more annually.

The numbers do improve somewhat over four years, with earnings climbing to $37,979 (9% growth), and the debt load of $10,279 is manageable with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.30. Students aren't overleveraged, which matters for an entry-level manufacturing career. However, these figures come from a very small sample—fewer than 30 graduates—so they may not reliably predict your child's outcome.

If your child is set on precision metal working in South Carolina, this program isn't a terrible choice, but it's middle-of-the-pack at best. The debt is reasonable, but the earnings gap compared to York or Midlands Technical suggests those programs might offer better training, industry connections, or both. Worth investigating why those schools produce significantly higher-earning graduates before committing here.

Where Greenville Technical College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all precision metal working certificate's programs nationally

Earnings Distribution

How Greenville Technical College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Greenville Technical College	$34,761	$37,979	+9%
York Technical College	$50,309	$43,479	-14%
Piedmont Technical College	$34,928	$38,383	+10%
Spartanburg Community College	$38,147	$36,665	-4%
Florence-Darlington Technical College	$34,948	$36,439	+4%

Compare to Similar Programs in South Carolina

Precision Metal Working certificate's programs at peer institutions in South Carolina (16 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Greenville Technical CollegeGreenville	$5,639	$34,761	$37,979	$10,279	0.30
York Technical CollegeRock Hill	$5,512	$50,309	$43,479	$11,250	0.22
Midlands Technical CollegeWest Columbia	$4,788	$47,556	—	$10,500	0.22
Spartanburg Community CollegeSpartanburg	$5,046	$38,147	$36,665	—	—
Florence-Darlington Technical CollegeFlorence	$4,636	$34,948	$36,439	$7,230	0.21
Piedmont Technical CollegeGreenwood	$4,775	$34,928	$38,383	$11,625	0.33
National Median	—	$36,248	—	$9,000	0.25

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with precision metal working graduates

Sheet Metal Workers

Fabricate, assemble, install, and repair sheet metal products and equipment, such as ducts, control boxes, drainpipes, and furnace casings. Work may involve any of the following: setting up and operating fabricating machines to cut, bend, and straighten sheet metal; shaping metal over anvils, blocks, or forms using hammer; operating soldering and welding equipment to join sheet metal parts; or inspecting, assembling, and smoothing seams and joints of burred surfaces. Includes sheet metal duct installers who install prefabricated sheet metal ducts used for heating, air conditioning, or other purposes.

$60,850/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Machinists

Set up and operate a variety of machine tools to produce precision parts and instruments out of metal. Includes precision instrument makers who fabricate, modify, or repair mechanical instruments. May also fabricate and modify parts to make or repair machine tools or maintain industrial machines, applying knowledge of mechanics, mathematics, metal properties, layout, and machining procedures.

$57,700/yrJobs growth:

Tool and Die Makers

Analyze specifications, lay out metal stock, set up and operate machine tools, and fit and assemble parts to make and repair dies, cutting tools, jigs, fixtures, gauges, and machinists' hand tools.

$57,700/yrJobs growth:

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers

Use hand-welding, flame-cutting, hand-soldering, or brazing equipment to weld or join metal components or to fill holes, indentations, or seams of fabricated metal products.

$51,000/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set up, operate, or tend machines to extrude or draw thermoplastic or metal materials into tubes, rods, hoses, wire, bars, or structural shapes.

$46,800/yrJobs growth:

Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set up, operate, or tend forging machines to taper, shape, or form metal or plastic parts.

$46,800/yrJobs growth:

Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set up, operate, or tend machines to roll steel or plastic forming bends, beads, knurls, rolls, or plate, or to flatten, temper, or reduce gauge of material.

$46,800/yrJobs growth:

Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.

$46,800/yrJobs growth:

Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set up, operate, or tend drilling machines to drill, bore, ream, mill, or countersink metal or plastic work pieces.

$46,800/yrJobs growth:

Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set up, operate, or tend grinding and related tools that remove excess material or burrs from surfaces, sharpen edges or corners, or buff, hone, or polish metal or plastic work pieces.

$46,800/yrJobs growth:

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set up, operate, or tend lathe and turning machines to turn, bore, thread, form, or face metal or plastic materials, such as wire, rod, or bar stock.

$46,800/yrJobs growth:

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set up, operate, or tend milling or planing machines to mill, plane, shape, groove, or profile metal or plastic work pieces.

$46,800/yrJobs growth:

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Greenville Technical College, approximately 33% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 19 graduates with reported earnings and 19 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.